RE - Ascension

The morning finally came as the sun revealed its might by majestically illuminating the world with its warm ray.

This was the second day for Gareth to be here, in this Eastern Profound Continent.

Currently, he was in the middle of enjoying breakfast together with his people. They're having it on the table besides the window within the inn's dining hall. The food was basically simple dishes provided by the inn as part of its service.

The dining hall was almost devoid of people. Only Gareth's bunch and one of the inn's employee presents here at this moment.

But Gareth favored this kind of peaceful atmosphere where there weren't many people around. Just him and his companions enjoying their breakfast in solitude.

A Martial Sage, three Martial Saints, and a young Martial Master eating together in an ordinary inn inside a small rural town. If this news was revealed, it would create a huge uproar in the entire Lampero Coast.

As soon as Gareth finished eating his food, he began to staring beyond the window, where he could see the town's main road.

Afrin has started to be filled with various townsfolk's activities.

Because there was a limited amount of industries exist within the town, most of the local people could only worked as farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Unsurprisingly, life's here was pretty simple and boring.

Since not many things happen on the road besides people walking here and there or rows of carts passing by, Gareth retracted his vision and shifted it towards his companions.

Arda had eaten all of his breakfast as well, then he suddenly asked Gareth, "Bro, what's our next destination? Do we head straight for the ruin or what?"

"Of course. The ruin is our target after all. But we're heading for the south first, to the Kingdom of Genosia." Gareth answered simply.

Arda was stunned.

He remembers that the reason they were being here was for the vestige of Sage Galhart, and its supposed location was somewhere not far beyond the northern border of Eternal Fragrance Kingdom.

If they want to reach it fast, then they would need to head for the east towards Malfar Pass. From there, they could cross the Aurga Mountains and enter Eternal Fragrance's territory. Then, they could finally travel to the kingdom's northern border.

That should be the fastest route available to them.

However, Gareth said they would travel to the Kingdom of Genosia instead, which was in the south of Martial Glory Kingdom. This makes the silver-haired boy confused.

"It's because Malfar Pass has been completely closed by Eternal Fragrance's army a few months ago. Since then, they do not allow anyone from Martial Glory to enter their border through it. That's why we have no choice but to take a long detour through Genosia." Diandra knew the exact reason, thus she explained it to Arda.

"Ah... I get it now." Arda replied shortly. Since he finally understood the reason, he didn't inquire further.

"Why don't we just directly go to that pass and show our power there? I'm sure they will let us through." Said Heinz suddenly while his mouth was grinning.

Zeke and Diandra facepalmed after they had heard the boasting words. While Arda nodded seriously as he agreed with Heinz.

Gareth could only sigh and shake his head. This Wolfman subordinate of his was really one of a kind.

Well, there was some truth in what Heinz said. The army defending the pass would probably let Gareth's group to pass if they're really show their actual power, since the powerful Eternal Fragrance wouldn't want to offend any strong cultivators, not to mention, offending a Sage.

However, if Gareth really do that, then what's the point of being low-key this whole time?

They might as well reveal their power and intention now, it makes things easier as the news will also be known to the army in the pass, thus they could prepare the welcome ceremony for Gareth and his companions.

"Anyway... What's the reason behind Eternal Fragrance closing the pass? I understand they didn't have the best relation with Martial Glory, but they never shutting off the pass completely, Do we have the information concerning this, Miss Diandra?" Zeke inquired as he was curious about Eternal Fragrance's intention.

Zeke's line of thinking was different from Heinz. In that regard, he has a more critical mind as Zeke usually worried about important or essential stuffs rather than thinking about mundane things. It could be said that he was much more serious than Heinz.

Diandra nodded slightly in response, and she begin to explain what she knew.

According to Siri's intel, 3 months before Gareth embarked on this journey, a some kind of ancient ruin has been found close to Eternal Fragrance's northern border. It was discovered by a team of cultivators that was directly sent by Martial Glory's authority, and they had concealed the finding from Eternal Fragrance for several weeks.

When Eternal Fragrance finally uncovered the illegal excavation, they were extremely furious. The kingdom immediately denounced Martial Glory's covert action and shut Malfar Pass completely. Not only that, they have also sent several of their strong cultivators to take over the ruin from Martial Glory's team.

It was said the conflict over the control of the ruin was extremely bloody. In the end, it ended with Eternal Fragrance's victory.

It has been several months since then, but the situation has gotten even worse.

Originally, this entire event was hidden from the public's eyes, and Eternal Fragrance have been trying to keep it remain that way. It shouldn't be hard to guess their intention; Eternal Fragrance d.e.s.i.r.ed the ruin for themselves.

But it looks like the ruin still found itself revealed to the world. And it makes the whole Lampero Coast and neighboring regions on fire.

After the news leaked, Eternal Fragrance, who was happily excavating the ruin in peacefulness, was suddenly swarmed by countless cultivators coming from either local region or abroad.

And they've demanded access to the ruin.

"So it's basically a shitshow huh?" Heinz blurted out his un-filter words after Diandra had done with her explanation.

"More or less." Diandra replied shortly while shrugging.

Zeke scratched his chin for a moment before saying, "That ruin might be the vestige of Sage Galhart we've been looking for..."

"Most likely... Its location matched the description mentioned in Siri's intel." Diandra replied again seriously.

"Not most likely... That ruin is the vestige of Sage Galhart. There is the presence of Heaven Dominion Sect's people within the shadow of Martial Glory. They're definitely that have sent the team who discovered the ruin in the first place... It should be easy for them to act on the behalf of Martial Glory in this matter." Gareth said his speculation with absolute confidence.

The rest of his people nodded in agreement. However, their expressions turned unsightly when Gareth mentioned the name of Heaven Dominion Sect.

Heaven Dominion Sect was one of the most powerful forces in the central continent. They're also the greatest rival to the Dorian clan.

The sect was generally disliked by many powers due to their aggressive and domineering attitude towards others. Majority of Heaven Dominion Sect's members were arrogant, obnoxious and unbridle.

But to be honest, they do have the strength that backed their attitudes. The sect possessed thousands of talented disciples, and they were famous because of their incredible proficiency in using swords.

Gareth's people unsightly expressions probably because they despised Heaven Dominion Sect. The sect was one of the suspects behind the assassination of Gareth's father.

Even though it has never been proven, but some of the clan members have pointed their fingers at Heaven Dominion Sect as the most suspicious one.

Gareth, Diandra, Heinz, and Zeke has already tasted several battles against the sect's members in the past. They have no choice but to fight even when they didn't actually wanted to. Whenever Dorian clan's members meet Heaven Dominion Sect's disciples in the wild, the encounter would always result in a fight.

Only Arda, who hasn't experience fighting the sect's members as it was rare for him to go outside the clan's territory.

Right now, another clash would likely happen again sooner or later as Heaven Dominion Sect probably looking for the same thing as Gareth's group.

In fact, Gareth had gained a little benefit from following the people from Heaven Dominion Sect. They're the one who had discovered the vestige first and the news was picked up by Siri's chamber of commerce, which then she compiled it and gave it to Gareth.

That's how he knew the vestige was located somewhere in Eastern Profound Continent.

However, Gareth was clueless what the people of Heaven Dominion Sect search for inside the vestige. He speculated that what they want was not the Divine Crystals but something else instead. As for what it was, he doesn't know it either.

But his curiosity was aroused. Something that was d.e.s.i.r.ed by Heaven Dominion Sect should be a valuable stuff.

Gareth thought Galhart might possessed something precious he doesn't know about.

At this moment, he could do nothing but to wait and see.

"Alas, we don't know the identities of those people from Heaven Dominion." Diandra sighed in disappointment.

"Relax, we still have enough times. Just gather any info about them along the journey to the ruin. Although it looks like they've been trying to be low-key as well, people like them should leak some rumours..." Said Gareth as he tries to assure Diandra.

Zeke nodded, "Especially the one who's command their operation. It must be a Saint at least, and we need to know who exactly that person is."

"It's easy if it's someone famous. But this is the eastern continent after all. I wonder if a famous person from the central continent can still be famous here?" Heinz asked sarcastically.

"Heh... Probably not." Arda replied in amus.e.m.e.nt.

"Haha." Heinz laughed due to that.

"Well, since all of you already finished the breakfast, let's not waste anymore time then... We should depart immediately." Gareth beckoned all his people to depart.

A few minutes later, they were already on the way towards Afrin's main gate by riding their horses in leisure manners.

***

"Thank god I listened to your advice yesterday, Nestor. Otherwise, our clan will be certainly eliminated by now." Irgun spoke with huge sign of relief.

Nestor beside him nodded furiously without speaking, while sweats drenched almost his entire body.

These two people currently watching the outsiders from yesterday leaving Afrin on top of the town's wall.

Just a while ago, both of them had just experienced the most terrifying moment in their lifes. When the woman belongs to the outsiders' group letting out a formidable aura that heavily pressured and shocked these two man almost to death.

Irgun was terrified. He had met a Martial Grandmaster before. That Grandmaster was one of the Martial Glory's Royal Guardians, and he was moreover a 2nd-rank Martial Grandmaster.

However, he could feel that Grandmaster's aura wasn't as strong as the woman had projected just earlier ago.

It means that woman was stronger than the Royal Guardian he had met. She's definitely not just some Peak Martial Master like Irgun had previously believed.

Thankfully, he had listened to Nestor's advice yesterday, instead of, retaliating for the attack against his man. This time Alkash clan was truly lucky.

No good results will came from offending a powerful cultivator that could destroy your clan single-handedly.

As they saw those outsiders' visage has vanished from their sight. Irgun realized that his clan cannot continue being arrogant like this.

They have been comfortable long enough in their current pedestal, while forgetting the fact that the world outside was big and wide. There were many cultivators have the powers which could effortlessly annihilate their clan outside this town.

And there was no medicine for regrets. One mistake is enough to destroy everything they have build thus far.

Inside Irgun's heart, the motivation to enhance his status and cultivation grew brighter and stronger.